Tax Season is Approaching

EAST HAVEN — We would like to inform residents that motor vehicle, real estate, and personal property tax bills for the year 2022 will be mailed to you in mid- to late June. We want to provide you with some important information regarding the upcoming tax season.

The mill rate for Grand List 2022 remains unchanged at 31.20. It is essential to note that the current bill you will receive is for the 2022 tax year. Taxes are calculated based on the grand list year, which runs from October 1 to September 30. This means you will be taxed on the value of your property as of October 1 of the previous year, specifically October 1, 2022.

To assist you during this period, the tax office will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Additionally, we have extended our office hours for your convenience. The tax office will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on two Saturdays in July: July 15 and 29. Furthermore, on Friday, July 21, we will remain open until 6 p.m., and on the last day to pay before taxes become delinquent, which is Tuesday, August 1.

We understand that managing tax payments can be challenging, and thus, we offer the option to pay all types of tax bills that are $200 or more in two installments. The first installment is due on July 1, and the second installment is payable on January 1. Please be aware that there is a 30-day grace period to pay these installments, ending on August 1 and February 1, respectively. If you choose to pay in two installments, it is your responsibility to remember to pay the second installment in January.

For your convenience, taxes can be paid in various ways, including cash, check, money order, or debit and credit card. It is important to note that when using debit or credit cards, a processing fee of 2.99% or a minimum of $3.95, charged by Invoice Cloud (not the Town of East Haven), will be applied. This fee is mandatory regardless of whether you make your payment online or in person. We would like to emphasize that the town does not profit from this fee, as it is independently set by Invoice Cloud.

In Connecticut, taxes are ad valorem, meaning they are based on the value of your property. Specifically, you are taxed on 70 percent of the Fair Market Value of your motor vehicle, real estate, or personal property declarations. For instance, if your car is valued at $1,000, your taxes will be calculated based on 70 percent of that value, which amounts to $700.

We understand that paying taxes can sometimes be confusing, and we want to assist you in any way we can. Therefore, our tax department has prepared a helpful "cheat sheet" that can be accessed on our website at townofeasthaven-ct.gov/tax-department. Upon request, we can also send copies of the cheat sheet by mail. If you have any questions or require further assistance, please feel free to contact our office at 203-468-3307 or email us at tax@easthaven-ct.gov. Please be aware that during July, you may need to leave a message, and we will get back to you promptly. We appreciate your attention to these tax-related matters and are committed to providing you with excellent service throughout the tax season.

Thank you,

Town of East Haven